ASLM webinar: Establishing more inclusive Service Level Agreements (SLAS) for Genomic Sequencing Equipment in Africa.

The African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) organizes the fourth Genomic Sequencing CoP ECHO session that focuses on establishing more inclusive Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for genomic sequencing equipment in Africa.

Date: 26th of March 2025

Time: 16:00 EAT

Location: Virtual

Current Genomic Sequencing (GS) equipment Service Level Agreements (SLAs) in most African countries are fragmented, lacking transparency and standardization. Many SLAs focus on limited deliverable metrics without clear key performance indicators (KPIs) for accountability or performance evaluation. These gaps lead to unforeseen costs, prolonged equipment downtime, and disruptions in laboratory operations for clinical diagnostics, public health surveillance, and research.

To address these issues, Africa CDC advocates for Required Minimum Service Level Agreement (RMSLA) terms and has developed an advocacy note to establish benchmark service and maintenance standards for manufacturers. Additionally, developing and implementing inclusive, comprehensive SLAs with clearly defined service parameters, performance metrics, responsibilities, and cost structures is essential to ensuring equitable access to reliable sequencing equipment services.

Objective:

This session will explore the development of standardized inclusive SLAs terms for GS equipment to ensure regional and institutional equitable access to service and maintenance while fostering collaboration among stakeholders to enhance sustainability and service reliability.

Session Key Topics

• Key Advocacy Points for action in Genomic Sequencing PSM (By AfCDC)
• Overview of inclusive SLA Terms (By CHAI)
  • Establishing minimum SLAs: Terms, Conditions and benefits 
  • Tracking SLAs implementation 
• Discussions (By All)

Moderator: 

• Nyasha Sithole, Project Coordinator, ASLM

Presenter: 

• Julia Tuttle, Senior Program Manager Global Diagnostics Team, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). 

Click here to register.